The Airdrie–Bathgate rail link is a completed

railway Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a p ...

project in central Scotland. Instigated as part of a round of transport improvement projects proposed by the then Scottish Executive in 2003, the plan was to open up a fourth direct railway link between the cities of

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popu ...

and

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

. The project was completed in October 2010, at an estimated cost of £300 million. The rail link received the final approval of the

Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament ( gd, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ; sco, Scots Pairlament) is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. Located in the Holyrood area of the capital city, Edinburgh, it is frequently referred to by the metonym Holyr ...

on 28 March 2007, and gained

royal assent Royal assent is the method by which a monarch formally approves an act of the legislature, either directly or through an official acting on the monarch's behalf. In some jurisdictions, royal assent is equivalent to promulgation, while in oth ...

on 9 May 2007.

Background

In line with plans to complete the missing part of the M8 motorway, the Executive stipulated that public transport links between Scotland's two largest cities must improve. The new line reinstates the

Bathgate and Coatbridge Railway The Bathgate and Coatbridge Railway, also known as the "New Monkland Line", was built by Monkland Railways. It opened on 28 July 1863. The line was absorbed into the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway on 31 July 1865. The following day (1 August 1865 ...

between Airdrie and Bathgate, closed to passengers in 1956 and to freight in 1982, joining the

North Clyde Line The North Clyde Line (defined by Network Rail as the ''Glasgow North Electric Suburban'' line) is a suburban railway in West Central Scotland. The route is operated by ScotRail Trains. As a result of the incorporation of the Airdrie–Bathga ...

of the Glasgow suburban railway network which currently links the

North Lanarkshire North Lanarkshire ( sco, North Lanrikshire; gd, Siorrachd Lannraig a Tuath) is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders the northeast of the City of Glasgow and contains many of Glasgow's suburbs and commuter towns and villages. It als ...

town of to

Glasgow Queen Street railway station , symbol_location = gb , symbol = rail , image = Queen Street railway station (geograph 6687389).jpg , caption = Main entrance in 2020 , borough = Glasgow , country = Scotland , coordinates = , grid_name = Grid reference , grid_posit ...

, to the

Edinburgh to Bathgate Line Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...

, which connects with the West Coast and East Coast Main Lines at . It is now possible to travel from to Queen Street (Low Level) in around 65 minutes. It will complement the existing "shuttle" service between Queen Street (High Level) and Edinburgh via , which will remain the primary railway link between the two cities, taking around 50 minutes at peak times.

Benefits and infrastructure improvements

The line is intended to bring significant benefits to the West Lothian area, connecting it to the Greater Glasgow conurbation. New stations serve the towns of and

Armadale, West Lothian Armadale ( sco, Airmadale, gd, Armadal) is a town within the county of West Lothian in the Central Belt of Scotland. It lies to the west of Bathgate and to the east of Blackridge. Armadale, formerly known as Barbauchlaw, is an ex-mining town wh ...

, while the

new town New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator ...

Livingston Livingston may refer to: Businesses * Livingston Energy Flight, an Italian airline (2003–2010) * Livingston Compagnia Aerea, an Italian airline (2011–2014), also known as Livingston Airline * Livingston International, a North American customs ...

has an additional direct rail link to Glasgow. In order to permit four trains per hour in each direction, improvements to the existing line have been made: * The entire line is double track, doubling the lines between and Drumgelloch, and between Bathgate and Cawburn Junction, east of Uphall. * An upgrade of Newbridge Junction, where the railways from Bathgate and Falkirk to Edinburgh join. * New stations at Drumgelloch and in new locations. *

Electrification Electrification is the process of powering by electricity and, in many contexts, the introduction of such power by changing over from an earlier power source. The broad meaning of the term, such as in the history of technology, economic histo ...

of the line between Drumgelloch and Haymarket. The Class 380s delivered to ScotRail for use across the Strathclyde network. This allowed the Class 334s to be used on the Helensburgh/Milngavie to/from Edinburgh services.

Progress

The start of work was signalled with a sod cutting ceremony at Livingston North station in June 2007. Contracts worth £300m for design, installation and commissioning of signalling and telecommunications had been awarded by July 2008. Remodelling of Newbridge Junction and doubling of Bathgate branch was completed in October 2008.

Blackridge railway station , symbol_location = gb , symbol = rail , image = Blackridge Station March 2011.jpg , caption = Blackridge station, looking west towards Caldercruix , borough = Blackridge, West Lothia ...

was included as one of the stations to be opened on the line. officially closed after the last train left at 23:08 for on 8 May 2010. opened in December 2010 550 metres to the east. On 27 August 2010 at Drumgelloch, a ceremony took place to lay the last piece of track between Airdrie and Bathgate joining the two towns by rail for the first time since 1982. With work to install overhead line and signalling equipment for the line complete, it was opened for operational use and driver training on 18 October 2010. Passenger services began on 12 December 2010, as an extension of the existing services to Airdrie on the

, incorporated into National Rail timetable 226. Services are currently hourly (half hourly on weekends). Drumgelloch, and Armadale were initially served by bus substitution services open due to the

inclement weather Weather is the state of the atmosphere, describing for example the degree to which it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. On Earth, most weather phenomena occur in the lowest layer of the planet's atmosphere, the t ...

at the end of November 2010 delaying the completion of minor works (including surfacing of car parks). On 13 February 2011 opened. Armadale opened on 4 March, followed by Drumgelloch on 6 March, thus completing all station work. Effective 7 March, service between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley increased to two trains per hour on weekdays, Saturdays and Sunday afternoons. On Tuesday 8 March 2011, Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown officially opened the Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link.

References

External links

Official site for the Airdrie–Bathgate railway link
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Airdrie-Bathgate rail link Railway lines in Scotland Standard gauge railways in Scotland Airdrie, North Lanarkshire Transport in North Lanarkshire Transport in West Lothian Bathgate

Background

Benefits and infrastructure improvements

Progress

See also

References

Further reading

External links